Stay
528 Words
Kira’s heart wouldn’t slow down.
Not while Kieran carried her through the dim hallway like she weighed nothing. One strong arm rested beneath her legs while the other held her securely against his chest.
And the worst part?
She liked it.
Too much.
The rain outside continued pounding against the windows while thunder echoed through the mansion, but none of it compared to the storm building between them.
Kieran pushed open the door to his room.
The scent of cedar and smoke wrapped around her instantly again.
Dark walls. Black sheets. Low firelight.
Everything about the room felt like him.
Dangerous.
Warm.
Tempting.
Kieran set her down carefully at the edge of the bed, but he didn’t step away.
Instead, he stood directly in front of her, gray eyes slowly tracing over her face.
Kira swallowed hard.
The tension between them was unbearable now.
“Kieran,” she whispered softly.
That look appeared in his eyes again.
The one that made her entire body heat instantly.
He stepped closer until his knees brushed hers.
“You should sleep,” he said roughly.
Kira tilted her head slightly. “You keep saying that.”
“Because I’m trying to do the right thing.”
“And what’s the wrong thing?”
A dangerous silence filled the room.
Kieran’s jaw tightened.
Then his hand slowly lifted to her cheek, thumb brushing softly across her skin.
“The wrong thing,” he murmured, “is forgetting every ounce of self-control I have whenever you look at me like this.”
Kira’s breath shook slightly.
Nobody had ever wanted her the way Kieran did.
Not just physically.
Completely.
The realization terrified her almost as much as it thrilled her.
“You could tell me to leave,” she whispered.
Kieran stared at her for a long moment before answering quietly:
“And you could tell me to stop touching you.”
Neither of them moved.
Neither of them stopped.
Kira slowly reached for the front of his shirt, fingers curling into the fabric again.
Kieran closed his eyes briefly like that tiny touch alone was dangerous.
Then he leaned down and kissed her.
Slowly this time.
Deep enough to steal every coherent thought from her mind.
Kira melted against him instantly, her hands sliding up his chest while his arm wrapped firmly around her waist, pulling her closer.
The kiss lingered.
Soft.
Hungry.
Intimate in a way that made her chest ache.
Kieran rested his forehead against hers when they finally pulled apart.
His breathing was uneven.
“So beautiful,” he murmured quietly, almost to himself.
Kira’s cheeks warmed immediately.
“You make me nervous when you get soft.”
A low laugh escaped him.
“Trust me, sweetheart,” he murmured against her lips, “I’m fighting very hard not to be.”
The nickname alone nearly destroyed her composure.
Kieran brushed his nose lightly against hers before stepping back slightly — though his hand never left her waist.
“Sleep here tonight,” he said quietly.
Kira blinked. “With you?”
His eyes darkened.
“Yes.”
And somehow…
That single word felt more dangerous than anything else.
- Writer
